The Condition of Contemporary Ukrainian Culture: The Postcolonial Retrospective and Perspective

Abstract

Contemporary Ukrainian culture is in a state of redefinition of the basic values and principles on which its functioning is based. The challenge faced by the political and intellectual elites of Ukraine is to create a common language code that will be accepted and understood by members of the whole society. The postcolonial character of culture in this context is the platform on which the contemporary image of the Ukrainian state is created. Therefore, the idea of contemporary Ukraine should be based on the process of getting rid of the “postcolonial syndrome” and shaping the Ukrainian culture based on the traditions and attitudes of national culture. The state’s position in this regard should be compatible and follow the common goal of real independence from the then colonizer. The Russian Federation, implementing its imperial policy towards Ukraine, effectively hinders the development of the Ukrainian cultural sphere, which is one of the priority state-building spaces. Therefore, Ukrainian society faces a very difficult task, because it should create an effective institutional and systemic base that will allow for nationwide development. The process of uniting the Ukrainian nation around the basic state-building idea should be based on a common language space, because language is the element that shapes the area of mutual social interactions. Ukraine in the conditions of competition, not only in the military context, but above all in the cultural context, should go in the direction of promoting its own position in every sphere of functioning, and especially in the cultural sphere.